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Home » City guide

2 Days in Dublin – The Perfect Dublin Itinerary

Published: 27th May 2018 by Laurence Norah - 11 Comments

Kilmainham Gaol Dublin

Dublin is a fun city to visit, and a must if you’re heading to Ireland. We always enjoy visiting, meeting the locals and of course, sampling some of the good stuff! By which I mean Guinness of course. In today’s post, we’re going to share with you our idea of how to spend 2 days […]

3 Days in Vienna: The Perfect Vienna Itinerary

Published: 15th January 2018 by Laurence Norah - 46 Comments

3 Days in Vienna - 3 Day Vienna Itinerary

We think that three days in Vienna is the perfect amount of time for a visit. Three days will let you see the majority of the main sights in this beautiful city that you’re interested in, plus add in a few of the less well-known attractions, without being too rushed. In this post, we’re going […]

2 Days in Paris: The Perfect Paris Itinerary

Published: 20th December 2017 by Laurence Norah - 93 Comments

2 days in Paris

Paris is easily one of our favorite European cities, and one that we return to time and again. It has so much to offer, from beautiful views to world class museums to fabulous food. We’ve visited a number of times, both for short breaks like the two days in this Paris itinerary, as well as […]

3 Days in Rome: The Perfect Rome Itinerary

Published: 13th August 2017 by Laurence Norah - 234 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Rome is easily one of our favorite cities in Europe. We have visited Rome many times over the years and always find more to see and do. It is absolutely stuffed full of sights, with thousands of years of history layered upon itself – you’ll find everything here from Roman ruins to Renaissance art. It’s […]

A 2 Day Vienna Itinerary

Published: 14th May 2017 by Laurence Norah - 52 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Jess and I have visited Vienna in Austria a number of times, and it’s always a city that we are excited to visit. It’s a fantastic place for culture lovers, having played home to such icons as Mozart, Haydn, and Strauss. It was also the seat of the vast Habsburg empire, which for a time […]

3 Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Barcelona Itinerary

Published: 3rd April 2017 by Laurence Norah - 83 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular cities for visitors, and one of our favourite cities too. There’s loads to see and do, from the incredible architecture of Anton GaudĂ­, through to museums, UNESCO world heritage sites, markets, delicious tapas – and even a beach. As you might imagine, it is not hard to fill […]

Things to Do in Santa Fe New Mexico

Published: 12th March 2017 by Laurence Norah - 6 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Located about an hour’s drive north of (the much bigger!) Albuquerque, Santa Fe has long been known as a laid back place that is popular with artists as well as folks looking to explore the outdoors. We’ve visited a number of times, and have always found plenty of things to do in Santa Fe. These […]

The Best Photography Spots in Barcelona

Published: 5th March 2017 by Laurence Norah - 12 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Barcelona is definitely one of my favourite European cities, and one I love to photograph. Today, as part of my series of photography location guides, I’m going to share with you some of the best photography spots in Barcelona to help you get the best photos when you visit. After that, I’ll share some general […]

2 Days In Edinburgh: The Perfect Edinburgh Itinerary

Published: 1st March 2017 by Laurence Norah - 16 Comments

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Edinburgh is one of our favourite cities in the UK, and we actually called it home for four happy years. Based on our experiences living in the city, I wanted to share our tips and ideas for what to get up to with 2 days in Edinburgh. We think two days is a great amount […]

The Best Restaurants in Albuquerque: From Diners to Fine Dining!

Published: 30th January 2017 by Laurence Norah - 15 Comments

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Jess used to live in Albuquerque and it’s a city we have both visited many times, both for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and also for sightseeing around New Mexico in general. One thing we both love about Albuquerque and New Mexico is the food. New Mexican cuisine is an absolute delight, with a focus on […]

22 Things To Do In Albuquerque

Published: 27th November 2016 by Laurence Norah - 46 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Heading to New Mexico, and looking for things to do in Albuquerque? We’ve got you covered! Jess used to live in the city, and we’ve also visited on a number of occasions, both as part of our Route 66 road trip, and also for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. As you’re about to discover, there […]

Oyster Card vs Contactless: How to Pay for Public Transport in London

Published: 13th November 2016 by Laurence Norah - 70 Comments

London transport

I recently wrote a post about the best ways to get around London. That’s all well and good, but it’s missing a key component – the most cost-effective way to actually pay for transport in London. You’d think this would be a fairly obvious answer, but unfortunately, it’s a little bit more complicated than you […]

13 Things to Do in Edmonton

Published: 4th November 2016 by Laurence Norah - 8 Comments

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Somehow, in all my wanders, I’d not made it to Canada. This was a particularly nagging omission in my mind, largely because I’m a passionate landscape photographer, and, well, Canada has some pretty epic landscapes. Thankfully, the nice folks at Explore Edmonton & Tourism Jasper thought to invite Jess and I over to have a […]

Edinburgh in August: A Guide to the August 2024 Edinburgh Festivals

Published: 16th September 2016 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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If I asked you to name the festivals that Edinburgh is known for, I suspect you’d probably tell me all about the comedy-focused Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Which is a pretty great festival, with hundreds of venues popping up all over the city and serving up some of the world’s best comedy and drama, ranging from […]

How to Get Around London: A Guide to Public Transport in London

Published: 6th August 2016 by Laurence Norah - 27 Comments

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So you’ve decided to visit London! Fantastic idea, it’s an excellent city, with enough activities to keep you busy for however long you choose to stay. Today though, I’m not going to give you advice on what to see in London. Instead, I’m going to share with you my advice for how to get around London. […]

14 Unusual Things To Do In Edinburgh!

Published: 31st July 2016 by Laurence Norah - 1 Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Edinburgh is definitely one of our favourite cities in the UK, and it’s one where we lived for a number of years. There is a lot to do here, so much so that we’ve already penned a detailed post on how to spend two days in Edinburgh, as well as some of our favourite things […]

Mardi Gras 2025 in New Orleans – A Full Guide

Published: 29th June 2016 by Laurence Norah - 26 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing Mardi Gras in New Orleans, you’re in the right place. In today’s post I’m going to share with you everything you need to know about visiting New Orleans for Mardi Gras, based on our experiences of spending Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This guide includes tips on things you […]

2 Days in London: The Perfect London Itinerary

Published: 15th June 2016 by Laurence Norah - 78 Comments

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In today’s post, I’m going to share with you everything that I would recommend to the first-time visitor looking to spend two days in London. Jess and I are huge fans of London. I lived in central London for a couple of years, and we visit the city multiple times a year. This guide is […]

Things To Do In Baton Rouge

Published: 18th May 2016 by Laurence Norah - 8 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Today, I want to talk about things to do in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, and a city I personally knew very little about before we visited. I am, however, very happy that we did visit, as we ended up seeing and doing a great deal! Our visit to Baton Rouge […]

The Best Photography Locations in Paris

Published: 27th April 2016 by Laurence Norah - 14 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Paris is easily one of my favourite cities in the world, and by far one of the most photogenic. Today, as part of my series where I share some of my favourite photography locations from destinations around the world, I want to give you my tips for where to get the best photos in Paris. […]

2 Days in Florence and Tuscany

Published: 10th March 2016 by Laurence Norah - 27 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

On multiple previous trips to Italy, I somehow failed to visit Florence. It turns out this was somewhat of an oversight, because, well, Florence is unbelievably pretty. Like, in your face, over the top, can’t quite believe it’s real pretty. Suffice to say, if you’re planning a trip to Italy, such as our 10 day […]

The Best Things to Do in Savannah Georgia

Published: 22nd February 2016 by Laurence Norah - 16 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

As part of our five week road trip through the Deep South (first stop Charleston), we headed down to Savannah, the oldest city in Georgia, to see what there was to do. This, it turns out, was quite a lot! From our explorations, we’ve put together this post, which will give you plenty of ideas for […]

What to Do in St. Petersburg, Russia: Everything You Need to See!

Published: 3rd February 2016 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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In 2015 we had the pleasure of taking a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow with Gvidon Tours. You can read all about that experience, and my thoughts on cruising in Russia, in the post I wrote on the subject. As part of our trip, we got to spend a few days in both […]

Things to do In Charleston SC on a Weekend Getaway

Published: 23rd January 2016 by Laurence Norah - 15 Comments

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Charleston, South Carolina, is the perfect city for a short getaway. We think that 2 days in Charleston would give you enough time to see the majority of the highlights, sample some of the incredible food on offer and even take in some of the surrounding attractions. With this in mind, we’ve put together this […]

Walking tours in Rome: How to See The Highlights of Rome

Published: 13th January 2016 by Laurence Norah - 1 Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Rome. The Eternal City. A place so stuffed with history that they’ve had to layer it, like a cake, sandwiched atop itself. Everywhere you look, history piles upon history, from thousands of years ago to the present day, all jostling for space in the city, and time on your itinerary. It’s one of our favorite […]

The Best Photography Locations in London

Published: 7th December 2015 by Laurence Norah - 11 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

As part of my on-going quest to find awesome photography locations around the world to share with you, I recently headed to London, a city I know and love, to see if I could put together a guide to the best photography locations in London. The bar has already been set high, with my guides […]

The Best Walking Tours in New York City: Disney, Liberty, Food and More!

Published: 1st November 2015 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

I love to wander a city. Preferably, I’ll have my camera in hand, and there will be frequent stops to observe and capture moments, with the sights and sounds all washing over me. Whilst my blind wandering is very personally fulfilling, much of the “washing over” ends up being just that – I get a […]

A Day Trip To Oxford: Things to Do in Oxford for a Day

Published: 25th September 2015 by Laurence Norah - 15 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

I spent a good deal of my childhood in Oxford, and it has long been one of my favourite cities in the UK. As you can imagine, we’ve explored the city in great detail! In today’s post, I want to help you plan your own day trip to Oxford, with a guide to all our […]

The Best Things to Do In Kensington London

Published: 30th July 2015 by Laurence Norah - 7 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

One of my favourite things about London is how it’s basically a large collection of villages that have all grown together to become a big city. Taken as a city, it can seem overwhelming, but once you start to treat each area as it’s own place to visit, you’ll find it a lot more manageable. […]

Things To Do In Cambria, CA + Where to Stay and Eat!

Published: 17th June 2015 by Laurence Norah - 16 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

During our time living in California, we loved exploring the coastal communities. One of the towns we loved visiting was Cambria, where we found lots to do. From exploring rambling hilltop castles, to spying on Elephant Seals, to walking on sparkly, moonstone-filled beaches, you will definitely not run out of things to do in Cambria. […]

Things to Do in Redding California

Published: 22nd May 2015 by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Up in the northeastern part of California, around a 3.5 hour drive from San Francisco, is the city of Redding, found in the Shasta Cascade region. This part of California is excellent for lovers of the outdoors and landscape photographers like me, offering mountains, lakes, potentially live volcanoes and of course, hiking and photo opportunities […]

A Walk Through Leuven

Published: 1st May 2015 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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Today’s post is from Sofie, who writes at Wonderful Wanderings. You can read more about Sofie at the end of the post, in the meantime, take a walk with her through her current home town of Leuven in Belgium! While I’ve only been living in Leuven for about four years now, I’ve come to the […]

What to do in Oulu in Winter

Published: 24th April 2015 by Laurence Norah - 1 Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Air guitar. We’ve all done it. Our favourite song comes on the radio and before we know it we’re strumming along with the best of them. My personal favourite is actually air drumming, but that’s a story for another day. Anyway, if I was going to ask you how air guitar and Oulu were connected, […]

Visiting Walla Walla: Wineries, Art and a Hotel

Published: 4th April 2015 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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A few weeks ago, if you’d asked me where Walla Walla was, I would probably have guessed somewhere in Australia. It just has that sound about it. Obviously I would have been entirely wrong. It turns out that Walla Walla is in Washington State in the US, about four hours inland from Seattle, and there’s […]

Top 10 Things To Do In Santa Cruz, California

Published: 27th March 2015 by Laurence Norah - 8 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

From San Francisco, an easy day trip is to pop across to the gorgeous town of Santa Cruz, famed for its boardwalk, laid back vibe and surfing opportunities galore. We’ve visited a number of times, and based on our experiences, have come up with a guide to all our favourite things to do in Santa […]

1 Day in Tallinn: Itinerary Ideas

Published: 13th March 2015 by Laurence Norah - 10 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

We almost didn’t get to spend a day in Tallinn. Waking at 5.00am on a January morning in Helsinki, we looked outside to see flurries of snow and temperatures well below freezing. A thirty minute walk in the dark to the ferry terminal didn’t seem like a hugely appealing activity, particularly as neither of us […]

What to do in Rauma in Winter

Published: 6th March 2015 by Laurence Norah - 1 Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Visiting a summer town in the dead of winter is a weird experience, and something we experiened when we visited Rauma in winter. To start with, I’m fairly sure we were the only people staying in the hotel. The town’s streets were oddly, almost eerily quiet, at any time of the day or night. The […]

7 Things to Do In Dubai

Published: 22nd December 2014 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Dubai. I’ve recently visited for the second time. The first time round, I spent a lot of time in a conference hall talking to the travel industry about travel blogging. My glimpses of the city were snatched from the air conditioned confines of taxis, and my impression was of a shiny land in the midst […]

23 Awesome Things To Do In Milan

Published: 12th October 2014 by Laurence Norah - 8 Comments

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Located in northern Italy, Milan is Italy’s second largest city and the capital of the Lombardy region. It is a major financial and commercial center and is well known as one of the world’s fashion capitals. However, there’s lots more to do here than shop at high-end fashion stores! We’ve visited Milan a number of […]

Things to do in Besalu Spain

Published: 29th September 2014 by Laurence Norah - 6 Comments

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BesalĂş is one of the most popular medieval villages in the Catalonia region of Spain. It’s easy to reach from Girona or as a day trip from Barcelona, and we’ve visited a number of times. Based on our experiences, we wanted to share with you a guide to things to do in Besalu – beyond […]

A 1 Day Helsinki Itinerary

Published: 8th September 2014 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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If you’re visiting Finland, you should definitely set some time aside to visit Helsinki – even if just for one day. There’s plenty to see and do during a day in Helsinki, from food to shopping and sight-seeing. I’ve visited on a number of occasions, both in summer and winter, and here’s what I recommend […]

Common Paris Scams – How To Recognise and Avoid Scams in Paris

Published: 13th July 2014 by Laurence Norah - 19 Comments

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Paris is one of our favourite cities to visit, but it does have a bit of a reputation as having a number of common scams. In this post, we’re going to go through a number of common Paris scams so you can enjoy your time in the city, and not worry about falling prey to […]

What to Do in Poznan in Summer

Published: 4th July 2014 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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Cities change throughout the seasons; that’s nothing new. And although travel guides always debate the “best time to visit”, in the end they often admit that each season has its own benefits, its celebrations, its food, its fashions. We fell in love with Poznan during our first visit last November, but we weren’t prepared to […]

Seven Summer Festivals in Poznan

Published: 19th June 2014 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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In Europe, summer time is of course also festival time. There is – pardon my French – a crap load of festivals, and people will travel a long way to attend them. Some of these festivals have become a cult thing to go to, some have disappeared again despite having been popular, some are tiny […]

Tidbits of Galway City!

Published: 13th June 2014 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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The Irish city of Galway has many enchanting properties, and although I hardly spent a full day there, it was enough to make me decide that I’ll definitely be back one day; hopefully sooner than later. While I might not be able to list everything there is that you can see and do in Galway […]

1 Day in Athens: An Itinerary

Published: 5th June 2014 by Laurence Norah - 6 Comments

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Athens! When I landed, I have to admit to feeling a frisson of excitement. It was my first visit to the city which essentially sparked the beginning of the western world as we know it, and I couldn’t wait to get my eyes on some of the sights that I already felt I knew so […]

What To Do In Rio de Janeiro

Published: 16th May 2014 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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As a big fan of killing two birds with one stone (figuratively), I am always pleased when travelling to a location coincides with something else I had wanted to do. Like visiting a friend or relative who happens to live there, or attend a conference or a work-shop, or go to see a favourite band […]

Getting High In Quito

Published: 9th April 2014 by Laurence Norah - 1 Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

We did get very high in Ecuador’s capital Quíto, my oh my! 2,850 metres above the sea level. That makes Quito the second-highest capital in the world, right after La Paz in Bolivia (3,640m). But Bolivia cheated with the title, because they have several capitals (I see, how convenient!). There. Team Quito. The altitude If […]

What to Do in Otavalo, Ecuador – A Detailed Travel Guide

Published: 31st March 2014 by Laurence Norah - 10 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Otavalo in Ecuador is a pretty little town, a couple of hours bus ride north of Quito. It’s largely famous for its market, which, to be honest, didn’t totally blow us away. It was very nice and all, but it wasn’t exactly a reason to visit this particular town over many others in Ecuador and […]

The Best Bars in Poznan for Beer

Published: 7th March 2014 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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Yes, it’s me again, the German lady who doesn’t like beer, and I am going to talk to you about… beer! No, I still don’t like beer, but I gained a whole lotta respect for beer culture, and I thought I’d spread the word. Okay, I’m saying that like I ever thought there was such […]

One Day in London – What to Do in London in A Day

Published: 3rd March 2014 by Laurence Norah - 74 Comments

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Planning on spending just one day in London? Sure, it’s not very long, but you’ll be able to see a lot of London’s highlights even in such a short space of time. In this post, we’re going to help you plan your perfect day in London. We’re going to take a look at some of […]

Things to Do In Dublin

Published: 16th December 2013 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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Dublin is a fantastic city to visit – you’re pretty much always guaranteed to have a good time when you visit the Irish capital! In our guide to things to do in Dublin, we’re going to share with you some of our favourite sights and activities in the city, to you give you some inspiration […]

Things to do in Poznan, Poland

Published: 22nd November 2013 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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Ok, I have to admit that before the City of Poznan e-mailed me and asked if we were interested in coming to visit and seeing what there was to do in Poznan, I’d never heard of it. I’d also never visited Poland, but after doing a minimal amount of research, it seemed like the sort […]

Four Essential English Cities To Visit

Published: 15th August 2013 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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Ah England. The smell of freshly mown grass, the clink of ice cubes in a Pimm’s glass, the sight of those dreamy spires, the feel of water flowing past your punt. Yes indeed, it is a country that, for at least five days a year, has weather that makes it worth a visit.  And the […]

Discovering Oslo, Part II: inside

Published: 3rd June 2013 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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After Part I, which was all about discovering Oslo on a beautiful day out, now comes Part II, in which we find that Norway’s capital boasts so many fantastic museums and exhibitions that bad weather is absolutely no let-down. The only problem might be that you don’t even know where to start. But have no […]

What To Do In Bergen, Norway

Published: 23rd May 2013 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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If you’re heading to Norway, then a visit to the town of Bergen on the coast needs to be on your short list. And in this guide to what to do in Bergen, we’re going to explain why. Bergen is home to a UNESCO listed old town center, stunning mountains, and a number of excellent […]

Discovering Oslo, Part I: outside

Published: 16th May 2013 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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When we arrived in Oslo, the weather forecast announced that we would have a sunny day and a rainy day during our stay in Norway’s capital. Ever the brilliant organisers we decided we would cleverly visit all the outside sights on the sunny day, and the inside sights on the rainy day. And even though […]

A self-guided tour of Copenhagen

Published: 2nd May 2013 by Laurence Norah - 6 Comments

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There are definitely more comfortable places to sit than on Hans Christian Andersen’s left knee. On top of that, instead of telling me a story out of the book that is resting on his right knee, he is staring over to the Tivoli, the famous theme park, completely ignoring me. Well, I can’t say that’s […]

Four Things Not to Miss In Ghent

Published: 25th April 2013 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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Ghent is in Belgium. Which, other than chips, Audrey Hepburn, chocolate and a statue of a small boy peeing, isn’t exactly famous for anything. It’s almost famous for not being famous for anything in fact. Which is a bit of a shame really, because Belgium has a lot to offer, the small town of Ghent […]

Things to Do in Berlin

Published: 22nd April 2013 by Laurence Norah - 3 Comments

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Berlin is a hell of city. I’ve had the privilege of visiting a number of times, and each time it has delighted and educated me in equal parts. Part of this is due to the amount of recent history, from the horrors of the second world war, through to the collapse of the wall. It’s […]

What to do in Stockholm

Published: 11th April 2013 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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Five minutes after our arrival in Stockholm Centraal, the main station, I realized that anyone who has ever asked me if I was from Sweden (instead of Germany), has really given me a huge compliment by likening me to these Nordic goddesses. Wow. There is an unusual amount of really tall, really slender, really blonde […]

Things to do in Kanchanaburi

Published: 4th March 2013 by Laurence Norah - 8 Comments

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Kanchanaburi. Even if you’ve not heard of the town, I’ll hazard a guess that you’ve heard of the bridge which is the town’s main attraction. Which is the one over the River Kwai. Yep, that one. Even though the original bridge, as built by both allied prisoners of war and conscripted locals, isn’t standing any […]

Exploring Thailand’s Gorgeous Trang Region

Published: 14th February 2013 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

A bit of geography for you. Arguably Thailand’s most famous coastline is the Andaman. It’s the bit that you see in the postcards – impossibly pristine waters, beautiful long-tail boats, and those lumps of limestone that rise out of the sea like giant teeth. It’s home to islands, beaches, and people. Islands with names like […]

Why you might want to visit Nakhon Si Thammarat

Published: 4th February 2013 by Laurence Norah - 3 Comments

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Before I came to Thailand, if you had asked me to name any Thai city beginning with the word “Nakhon”, I would have been fairly stuck. I’m guessing that you might be a bit like me in this regard. If not, maximum points, well done. As it is, our adventures in Thailand have taken us […]

What to Do in Ayutthaya

Published: 7th January 2013 by Laurence Norah - 14 Comments

Reclining Buddha at sunset Thailand

If I was going to ask you where the largest city in the world was in the year 1600, I wonder where you might suggest. London? Paris? Beijing? Cairo? I’m going to guess that the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (or simply Ayutthaya), might not have made your shortlist. Well, in the year 1600, […]

A Day in Barcelona: The Perfect Itinerary

Published: 10th September 2012 by Laurence Norah - 22 Comments

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We’ve had the privilege of visiting Barcelona a number of times, and on each visit we see a whole host of wonderful sights. But what if you don’t have the luxury of multiple days in the city? What if you’re just passing through, and only have a day in Barcelona? Well, fear not. We think […]

Tips for Visiting Europe in the Summer

Published: 20th July 2012 by Laurence Norah - 1 Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Europe. It’s jam packed with incredible places to visit, and the cities are no exception to this rule. From the gondola clad waterways of Venice, to the Gaudi wackiness in Barcelona, to the romance that is Paris – there is truly something for everyone. The problem with this mass appeal is that the masses are […]

A day trip from Barcelona: Girona and Figueres

Published: 17th July 2012 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

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When I was in Barcelona I was offered the opportunity by the nice folk at Barcelona Tourism and the Catalunya Bus Turistique to take a day trip. A whole variety of destinations were on offer, but I chose the tour that went to the pretty looking towns of Girona and Figueras. I mostly chose this […]

In photos: Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

Published: 10th June 2012 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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I found Barcelona to be a remarkably photogenic city. In fact, I’ve already shared some of my favourite photos of Gaudi’s Barcelona. Today I thought I’d highlight Barcelona’s Gothic quarter. This is a very windy, largely pedestrianized part of Barcelona’s city centre. The streets are narrow and looming, making for challenging photography conditions, and the […]

How to get an awesome view of Barcelona – for free!

Published: 8th May 2012 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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When I arrive in a new city, I have a bit of a thing for finding the highest point around. This is for two reasons: first, because I like a good view, and second, in an attempt to orientate myself. The orientation part only vaguely helped on my recent trip to Barcelona. The city is […]

In Photos: Gaudi’s Barcelona

Published: 27th April 2012 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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GaudĂ­. It’s kind of hard to visit Barcelona without spending your time gaping in awe at the architectural and artistic genius that he left behind all over the city. A great deal of my week in Barcelona was therefore spent, gaping in awe, at his many truly incredible constructions. As well as gaping, I was […]

Things I didn’t know about Barcelona!

Published: 24th April 2012 by Laurence Norah - 3 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

I’ve just spent a week visiting Barcelona. I’d like to say that I did a whole bunch of research before setting off, but to be honest, I’m not that great at research. For example, I managed to get through an entire University degree without stepping inside a University library. Plus, I like a place to […]

Angouleme–wanders around the ramparts

Published: 20th April 2012 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

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This is my third post on AngoulĂŞme! Who would have thought one French town could hold so much appeal? Admittedly, AngoulĂŞme cheated slightly, by seducing me with awesome street art. That’s a good way for any city to get my attention, and more than one post. See Berlin’s street art for example. So I have […]

1 Day in Venice – The Perfect Itinerary

Published: 13th April 2012 by Laurence Norah - 42 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Venice is without doubt one of our favourite cities in Europe, and when we came to choose somewhere to hold a small wedding ceremony for our wedding, Venice was our pick. If you’re visiting Venice for one day, as is often the way, you might be wondering what you should do. Well, in this post, […]

Perigueux: what have the Romans ever done for us?

Published: 18th February 2012 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

If the title of this blog post makes little sense to you, then you should pause your whole life for a couple of hours and go watch Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Done that? Good. Perigueux is a town with a remarkably hard to spell name in the heart of France’s Dordogne. It is the […]

Face off: five European cities duel to the death

Published: 1st February 2012 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

Seine River Cruise Paris_by_Laurence Norah

  I was going to write a nice post about my five favourite cities in Europe, but then I figured that wasn’t quite as exciting as putting them to the test in a knockout and seeing which came up trumps. Naturally, this will be an entirely objective post, based solely on fact. Each round will […]

What to Do in Paris

Published: 23rd December 2011 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Ah, Paris. The city of love. A city that is a delight to visit at any time of year, be it for a sunny summers day stroll along the Seine or for a wander through the festively lit streets in Winter. Paris is a city that I’m deeply fond of in Europe. It vies with […]

Top 11 Things to Do in Rome

Published: 16th December 2011 by Laurence Norah - 24 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

We’ve been lucky enough to visit Rome numerous times, and every time we visit we find more things to do in the eternal city. We’ve already written detailed itineraries for visiting Rome, including how to spend 3 days in Rome, 2 days in Rome and even just a day in Rome. In this post though, […]

Brantôme – France’s Venice?

Published: 3rd December 2011 by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

In the northerly part of the Dordogne region of France, on the river Dromme, sits the town of BrantĂ´me. BrantĂ´me is often referred to as the Venice of France, and having visited, I can confirm that it isn’t that much like Venice, and really doesn’t need to sell itself as such to be a worthwhile […]

A day out in Luxembourg

Published: 3rd October 2011 by Laurence Norah - 5 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Some quick Luxembourg facts for you. Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe, yet is counted as the third richest country in the world. It is the only Grand Duchy in the world, which from what I understand, means that it is ruled over by a Grand Duke. The most important Luxembourg fact […]

Wanders through Wellington

Published: 31st July 2011 by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

Having babbled on at some length as to the virtues of Dunedin, it is now time to turn my attention to my other favourite Kiwi city – which also happens to be the countries capital – the city of Wellington. Wellington is tucked away on the southern tip of the North island, and most travellers […]

Whale Crazy Kaikoura

Published: 27th July 2011 by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

I should probably preface this post with a note that, title aside, I didn’t see any actual Whales in Kaikoura, despite quite a lot of frenzied staring out to sea. What I did see was a town that is somewhat obsessed by these creatures, and which shares it’s obsession with over a million visitors a […]

Dunedin in a day

Published: 14th July 2011 by Laurence Norah - 7 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

I don’t normally write too much about the cities of New Zealand. This is partly because I’m mostly travelling this country for its epic scenery – which it has in bucketloads – and partly because, if I’m honest, New Zealand cities don’t normally do much for me. Don’t get me wrong. They certainly have their […]

Highlights of the Wairarapa

Published: 5th June 2011 by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

Auckland’s volcanoes

You know those friends of yours who come back from some “life changing” trip, and bore you to tears for ages on end with the joy of travel and how incredibly awesome the whole thing was, slide show and all? (Yes, I appreciate a travel blog is a very similar thing. Bear with me.) Well, […]

Auckland’s volcanoes

Published: 10th October 2010 by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

Auckland’s volcanoes

Auckland, I have learnt, is a city built on no less than fifty volcanoes, not all of which are dormant. This means two things. One, that I could get blown into tiny lava covered pieces of myself at any moment, and two, that there is some excellent hilly walking to be done. We set off, […]

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Laurence and Jessica Norah

Hi there! We're Laurence and Jessica Norah. We've been running this site since 2010 as full time professional travel bloggers. We visit all the places we write about personally, and all our content is based on our own first hand travel experiences. We also take all the photos you see on our sites. So grab a drink, dive in, and read on! You can also find out more about us here. Comic included.
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